La Laguna Hosts Second Edition of International Puppet Festival

La Laguna is cementing its reputation as a hub for small-format performing arts with the second edition of La Laguna Titiritando. As an extension of the Canary Islands International Puppet Festival, this event is successfully putting the Tenerife municipality on the global cultural map.

Supported by the Aguere City Council, the festival will run from April 23 to 26, turning the Plaza del Adelantado into the main stage for around 20 performances. The lineup is truly international, featuring companies from Argentina, Italy, and Brazil, alongside creators from Madrid, Catalonia, and the Canary Islands. Local officials note that the event is part of a broader strategy to revitalize the city by using its historic streets as a backdrop for contemporary art.

The Association for the Promotion of Visual and Performing Arts of Los Realejos, which manages the festival, credits the partnership with the La Laguna City Council as vital for sustaining a project that has been active for three decades.

The festival offers something for everyone. Thursday, April 23, is dedicated to school groups, featuring performances by Jordi Bertran and Pablo Sáez. From Friday the 24th, the program opens to the general public with shows by Pepe Luna, Verónica González, La Canica, and Truki Trek.

Saturday the 25th is the busiest day, featuring a parade from the Plaza de la Concepción to the Plaza del Adelantado, puppet-making workshops, and face painting. The evening will include performances and a special showing of Visual Poems at the former Convent of Santo Domingo. The festival concludes on Sunday the 26th with family-friendly performances by Roberto White.

Beyond entertainment, the festival reflects a growing trend of local governments using puppet theater to bring culture into public spaces. For the performing arts sector, these events provide a much-needed platform for professional growth and public visibility.